Pteridosperm Collection

Mariopteris muricata, seed fern
A leaf of a Carboniferous seed fern plant from Staffordshire

Glossopteris, fern fossil C016 / 4852
Glossopteris, fern fossil. This fossil plant has tongue-shaped leaves with a net-like arrangement of veins. This specimen is part of the collections held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Glossopteris indica, Antarctic fossil leaf
Fossilised plant leaf collected by Robert Falcon Scotts British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913, also known as the Terra Nova expedition

Neuropteris gigantea (Sternberg), Pteridosperm
Part of a frond of Neuropteris gigantea, an Upper Carboniferous plant, a Pteridosperm, from Coseley, near Bilston, west Midlands. Range; Genus, Carboniferous; Species, Westphalian

Alethopteris lonchitica, fossil seed fern
Shown here is a frond of the seed fern Alethopteris, specimen originating from Carboniferous rocks near Barnsley, England

Fossil leaves of Neuropteris, a genus created to account for a type of pteridosperm (seed fern) leaf, which appeared in fossil form detached from the original plant

Prehistoric era Pachypteris tree

Pachypteris prehistoric plant, isolated on white background

Prehistoric era Glossopteris tree

Glossopteris tree on white background. Glossopteris is the most important of those Pteridosperms (seed plants) who dominated the Permian period which is now extinct

Prestosuchus dinosaur catches a fish out of water
Prestosuchus dinosaur fishing amongst glossopteris tree by sunset

Arizonasaurus dinosaur amongst pachypteris trees
Arizonasaurus dinosaur walking in the desert amongst pachypteris trees

Picture No. 10886729
Fossil and its counterpart - Pteridosperm from the Carbodale Formation, (Pennsylvanian epoch) Date:

Fossilized Pteridosperm seeds known as Trigonocarpus

Mariopteris pteridosperm fossil C018 / 9391
Mariopteris pteridosperm fossil. Slab of coal shale containing a fossilised specimen of a Mariopteris pteridosperm. This specimen dates from around 300 million years ago

Fossilised seed fern seeds C016 / 5948
Fossilised seed fern (Trigonocarpus parkinsoni) seeds. These large nut-like seeds measure about 2.5 centimetres long. They were found in the coal measures of England, UK

Seed fern fossil C016 / 5953
Seed fern (Sagenopteris phillipsi) fossil. This extinct gymnosperm from the Jurassic period was collected at Cayton Bay, Yorkshire, UK. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Gymnosperm fossil C016 / 5945
Gymnosperm fossil. Ovule bearing cupules of the early extinct gymnosperm Xenotheca devonica from Devon, UK, dating from the Upper Devonian. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Fossil seed fern leaves C016 / 5951
Fossil seed fern (Glossopteris browniana) leaves. This specimwn is from from Nagpur, India and is held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Dicroidium, seed fern fossil C016 / 5054
Dicroidium, seed fern fossil. This specimen, from Queensland, Australia, dates from the Triassic. It is part of the collections held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Glossopteris linearis, leaf fossils C016 / 4895
Glossopteris linearis, leaf fossils. Leaves from a deciduous bushy plant are here fossilised on a bedding plane of Permian siltstone

Neuropteris, seed fern fossil C016 / 4844
Neuropteris, seed fern fossil. This plant fossil dates from the Carboniferous. This specimen is part of the collections held at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Alethopteris serli (Brongniart), Pteridosperm
Part of a frond of Alethopteris serli, a Pterisosperm, a plant from the Upper Carboniferous, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Range: Genus, Carboniferous; species, Westphalian

Dicroidium sp. seed fern
Fossil Triassic plant from Queensland, Australia

Neuropteris, seed fern
Shown here is the Carboniferous seed fern plant, Neuropteris

Glossopteris linearis, fossil leaves
Fossil leaves which lived as a deciduous bushy plant, preserved on a bedding plane of Permian siltstone (Old Agfa film - not possible to duplicate)

Glossopteris browniana
Fossil from Nagpur, India. Tongue-shaped leaves of the extinct Glossopteris are characteristic of the Permian and Triassic rocks of Gondwana. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Sagenopteris phillipsi, seed fern
Sagenopteris phillipsi, an extinct gymnosperm from the Jurassic period collected at Cayton Bay, Yorkshire, England. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Xenotheca devonica
Ovule (seed) bearing cupules of the early extinct gymnosperm from Devon, England dating from the Upper Devonian. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Trigonocarpus parkinsoni
Large nutlike seeds (about 2.5cm long) from the coal measures of England dating from Upper Carboniferous. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Glossopteris, fossil plant
Shown here is Glossopteris, a fossil fern plant with tongue-shaped leaves with a net-like arrangement of veins

Carboniferous landscape. Historical artwork from 1868 showing flora from the Carboniferous period (340-280 million years ago)

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"Unveiling the Ancient World: Exploring the Enigmatic Pteridosperms" Step into a prehistoric realm where ancient plants thrived, as we delve into the captivating world of pteridosperms. These remarkable seed ferns, such as Mariopteris muricata and Alethopteris lonchitica, flourished during the bygone era, leaving behind an intriguing fossil record that continues to captivate scientists today. Among these remnants of antiquity lies Glossopteris indica, an Antarctic fossil leaf that offers valuable insights into Earth's distant past. Its delicate veins tell tales of a time when this region was teeming with lush vegetation. Another fascinating find is Glossopteris C016/4852 - a fern fossil showcasing intricate details preserved over millennia. Venturing further back in time, we encounter Neuropteris gigantea (Sternberg), a majestic pteridosperm whose fronds stretched far and wide. The beauty of its fossilized leaves serves as a window into landscapes long forgotten. As our journey through time unfolds, we stumble upon Pachypteris trees from the prehistoric era. Towering giants adorned with vibrant foliage once dominated primeval forests. Their presence evokes awe and wonder at nature's ability to shape life across eons. Not limited to land-dwelling flora alone, pteridosperms also shared their habitat with creatures like Prestosuchus dinosaurs who skillfully caught fish out of water – an extraordinary sight indeed. The legacy left by these extinct plant species endures; their fossils whisper stories about Earth's evolution and offer glimpses into ecosystems lost in time. So let us marvel at the resilience and diversity displayed by these ancient organisms while appreciating how they continue to inspire scientific exploration even today.